Editor's Note: Hundreds of exhibitors displayed water and wastewater equipment — from the tried-and-true to the latest and greatest — at WEFTEC 2015, presented by the Water Environment Federation in Chicago on Sept. 27-30. This week, watch for the Innovation logo to learn more about new products displayed at the clean-water industry’s flagship exhibition and conference. Here is a sampling of the more recent innovations on the show floor.

Energy-saving aeration. GE Power & Water introduced ZeeLung Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) technology, which the company says is four times more energy efficient than conventional fine-bubble aeration systems and can help wastewater treatment facilities toward the goal of energy neutrality. The technology enables plants to achieve nutrient removal, capacity expansion or both in existing tankage. By coupling the energy savings with on-site energy production from biogas, facilities can achieve net zero energy, the company states. The ZeeLung technology transfers oxygen by diffusion to a biofilm that grows on the outside surface of a membrane. This process makes much more effective use of oxygen than conventional aeration. The technology will be commercially available in 2016. www.gepower.com.

Smart pump technology. SEEPEX demonstrated Smart Conveying Technology that enables faster maintenance, less downtime and lower energy and life cycle costs in its progressive cavity pumps. The technology consists of a two-piece Smart Stator that enables one person to complete maintenance without removing the suction or discharge piping, and a Smart Rotor that allows quick and easy removal and replacement without dismantling the joint or using special tools. The technology also includes an integrated re-tensioning device that allows clamping between the rotor and stator to be adjusted for optimum flow and readjusted when the flow rate declines due to wear. Readjustment can be accomplished in minutes, returning pump performance to the required level without replacement of any components. 937/864-7150; www.seepex.com.

Mobile odor-control lab. BioAir Solutions introduced a Mobile Research Center (MRC) designed to test new odor-control technologies and provide customers with proof of concept. The laboratory consists of eight full-scale reactors contained in a 52-foot-long trailer. It enables creation of variable operating conditions in controlled, measureable environments. This lets the company test and optimize different odor-control media under different process conditions and quantify the performance of various treatments for a given application. The unit also enables customers to “test drive” the company’s biological odor-control technologies and develop a custom solution for their situation. The MRC will also help the company develop next-generation, sustainable biological solutions for treating air emissions from municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities. 856/258-6969; www.bioairsolutions.com.

Optimized biosolids treatment. Centrisys offered the Pondus thermos-chemical hydrolysis process for biosolids treatment. The process uses caustic soda and hot water to destroy cell membranes, releasing organic acids. These in turn are converted faster in anaerobic digestion, increasing biogas production by about 30 percent, according to the company. The hydrolyzed material allows for lower-moisture cake solids and lower polymer usage, reducing dewatering and transportation costs. In addition the process yields a less viscous material that enables more efficient pumping and digester mixing. Heat from the hydrolysis process can be used for digester heating, further reducing costs. 262/764-8705; www.centrisys.us.

Monitoring biomass. LuminUltra Technologies exhibited technology for monitoring the biomass in wastewater treatment systems to enhance process stability and efficiency. The company says its biological monitoring solution allows users to observe how biomass responds to changes and establish cause-and-effect relationships around key variables. The technology is designed to help municipalities optimize the food/microorganism ratio, dissolved oxygen and other variables and eliminate excess solids, detect sludge bulking sooner, and diagnose deflocculation and other settling issues. It helps industries detect toxic influent and its effect on bioreactors, assess damage from upsets and speed recovery, and pace dosing of nutrient blends and biostimulants. 506/459-8777; www.luminultra.com.

Twin-shaft grinder. Vogelsang presented the XRipper XRL QG grinder for challenging applications. The unit is designed for new installations or as a drop-in replacement for other inline twin-shaft grinders. The unit’s cutter elements are CNC-cut from a single block of steel to the required shape and size, delivering longer cutting life and lower maintenance. All maintenance can be performed inline without removing any connecting piping. 800/984-9400; www.vogelsangusa.com.